Falen COMMANDER 503 accident near Georgetown, OH
On June 12, 1994, a Falen COMMANDER 503 (gyroplane) was involved in an accident near Georgetown, OH. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 12, 1994
- Place
- Georgetown, OH
- Aircraft
- Falen COMMANDER 503 · Gyroplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 38.859°N, 83.899°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001206X01459
NTSB summary
On June 12, 1994, at 0950 eastern daylight time, an unregistered home built Falen Commander 503 gyroplane impacted terrain in Georgetown, Ohio, during an uncontrolled descent. The gyroplane was destroyed. The non-certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed from the Brown County Airport in Georgetown about 0915 and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. According to an FAA aviation safety inspector from Cincinnati, Ohio, the gyroplane approached the airport from the southeast and entered a right-hand base leg for a final approach to runway 35. According to several witnesses, the gyroplane suddenly entered a dive. One witness stated that he heard the gyroplane flying overhead; when he looked up, he saw it "... coming straight down out of the sky." Another witness stated that he thought the gyroplane would "... pull out and go back up." Instead, the gyroplane "... came down fast and hit the ground." This witness also stated "... the engine seemed to be running okay, because I could hear it before the crash." Another witness stated the gyroplane "... sounded like an aircraft going into a dive." The gyroplane impacted the level terrain about 1/4 mile from the approach threshold of runway 35. According to FAA records, the pilot had never held an FAA airman certificate or medical certificate. A review of the pilot's logbook indicated that he had accumulated about 8 hours of flight time, all in type. A review of the gyroplane's maintenance records revealed that it had been
Probable cause
THE GYROPLANE'S UNCONTROLLED DESCENT INTO TERRAIN DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS.
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Browse: Ohio
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
